AUSTRAC enrolment for Australian accountants opened on 31 March 2026. But before you go anywhere near the AUSTRAC website, there is something critical to understand: you cannot meaningfully enrol until your AML/CTF program is in place.
AUSTRAC enrolment is not the starting point — it is the finish line of your setup. The enrolment form asks you to declare that you have a compliant program. That means your risk assessment, staff vetting, training, program documents, and senior manager approval all need to be completed first. Only then do you go to AUSTRAC Online, fill in the Business Profile Form, and submit.
Phase 1 — Complete your AML/CTF program (firm profile, staff vetting, training, risk assessment, AML/CTF program documents, senior manager approval). Phase 2 — Enrol with AUSTRAC (create account, complete Business Profile Form, submit, receive your AUSTRAC Account Number). Phase 3 — Save your Compliance Report (generate your PDF evidence record including your AUSTRAC Account Number — your proof of compliance from day one).
Don't jump straight to AUSTRAC Online. Many accountants are rushing to enrol without having their program in place. Enrolment without a completed AML/CTF program means you will be a registered reporting entity with no compliance framework — which is arguably worse than not having enrolled at all. Do the program first.
The Three Phases
Your AML/CTF program is the foundation of your compliance. AUSTRAC requires it to be in place before you provide any designated service from 1 July 2026. The six steps below must be completed before you enrol. SimpleAML guides you through each one in order.
Firm Profile
Enter your practice details — firm name, ABN, principal contact, and email address. This forms the basis of all your compliance records and your AUSTRAC enrolment information.
Staff Vetting
Before anyone can hold an AML/CTF compliance role, they must be vetted. This means verifying their identity, assessing their fit and proper status, and recording the outcome. Your AMLCO — the person you will nominate on the AUSTRAC enrolment form — must be vetted before you enrol.
- Vet all staff who perform AML/CTF roles
- Record identity verification and background checks
- For first-time setup, select "Initial — Pre-Appointment" for each person
- Your AMLCO must be vetted and formally appointed before enrolment
Training Register
All staff with AML/CTF responsibilities must complete training before they commence those duties — and you must have a record of it. Log your training completions before you enrol.
- Complete an AUSTRAC-aligned AML/CTF training course
- Log the completion — staff member, training provider, date, topic
- Upload your certificate if you have one
- View approved training providers at simpleaml.com.au/training-providers.html
Risk Assessment
Complete your firm-level ML/TF/PF risk assessment — a written analysis of your firm's exposure to financial crime risk across your designated services, client types, geographic exposure, and delivery channels. Each dimension must have a rating and a written narrative. This is not optional — it is the foundation of your entire compliance program.
- Rate each risk dimension: Low, Medium, or High
- Write your reasoning for each rating — generic answers are a red flag in audits
- Complete your risk appetite statement
- Document your proliferation financing (PF) assessment separately
Client Base & Geography
Document your overall client base profile — the types of clients you serve, industries, jurisdictions, and any elevated risk factors. This feeds into your firm risk assessment and your AUSTRAC risk profile.
AML/CTF Program — upload and get approval
Upload your completed program documents and record formal senior manager approval. Your program must cover Part A (governance and controls) and Part B (customer due diligence procedures). Free templates are available at simpleaml.com.au/templates.html.
- AML/CTF Program — Part A
- AML/CTF Program — Part B
- Firm Risk Assessment document
- Staff Training Policy
- SMR & TTR Procedure
- Senior manager approval — signed and dated
Use SimpleAML to complete all six steps. SimpleAML guides you through each one in order, checks your readiness before enrolment, and generates your Compliance Report PDF once you're enrolled. Free, no account needed — open the app here.
Once your program is complete and your senior manager has signed off, you are ready to enrol. Enrolment is completed through AUSTRAC Online using the AUSTRAC Business Profile Form (ABPF). Here is what you need and how to do it.
What to prepare before you start
- Legal business name (as on ASIC records)
- Trading name (if different)
- ABN and ACN
- Business structure
- Principal place of business address
- Business phone and email
- Website address (if applicable)
- AMLCO full legal name and contact details
- Date of birth and residential address
- Senior manager details
- Reporting officer details
- Number of personnel in your practice
- Full list of designated services your firm provides
- Whether you serve overseas clients
- Whether you handle physical cash above $10,000
- Whether you provide trust or nominee services
- CPA Australia, CA ANZ, or ACCA membership details
- Membership number
- Confirm your program is in place
Create your AUSTRAC Online account
Go to online.austrac.gov.au and select "Sign up" to create a new user account. Verify your email address. If you have previously been regulated by AUSTRAC, try logging in with your existing email first.
Access the Business Profile Form
Once logged in, go to Business → Business Profile → Enrol Business to open the AUSTRAC Business Profile Form. You can save your progress and return within 14 days — after that your progress is lost and you must start again.
Complete the form
Work through the form entering your business details, designated services, and key personnel. Take your time — incorrect information must be updated within 14 days of any change. Key sections include:
- Business details — legal name, ABN, structure, address
- Designated services — select all services your firm provides
- Key personnel — AMLCO, senior manager, reporting officer
- Professional body membership confirmation
Submit and save your receipt
Review carefully, then submit. You will receive a submission receipt number and can download a PDF copy of your submitted form. Save this — it is your proof of lodgement. AUSTRAC will email you confirmation once your enrolment is processed.
Receive your AUSTRAC Account Number (AAN)
Once AUSTRAC processes your application you will receive a confirmation email with your unique AUSTRAC Account Number (AAN). This is your firm's identifier on the Reporting Entities Roll. Record it immediately — enter it in the AUSTRAC Enrolment tab in SimpleAML so it appears on your Compliance Report.
Once you have your AUSTRAC Account Number, go back into SimpleAML, enter your AAN in the AUSTRAC Enrolment tab, then go to Save Compliance Report and generate your PDF.
This is your baseline evidence record — a formal document showing your complete AML/CTF program was in place from 1 July 2026, with your AUSTRAC Entity ID included. Save it somewhere your firm controls — not just your browser. This is the document an AUSTRAC auditor will ask for first.
- Generate the report after enrolment — not before, so your AAN is included
- Save as PDF with the date in the filename — e.g. SimpleAML-Compliance-Report-July-2026.pdf
- Store in your practice management system or document vault
- Regenerate annually as proof your program is actively maintained
- Keep all records for a minimum of 7 years under the AML/CTF Act
Key Deadlines
- 31 March 2026 — Enrolment opens. Start your program now if you haven't already.
- 1 July 2026 — AML/CTF obligations commence. Your program must be in place before this date.
- 29 July 2026 — Enrolment deadline. All firms providing designated services on 1 July must be enrolled.
- Within 14 days — Any changes to your enrolment details must be notified to AUSTRAC within 14 days of the change.
Don't leave enrolment until June. With tens of thousands of accounting, legal, and real estate firms all enrolling, AUSTRAC's portal will be under significant load close to the deadline. Firms that complete their program and enrol in April or May will have a smoother experience — and more time to fix any issues before 1 July.
Enrolment vs Registration — the difference
Enrolment is required for all accounting firms providing designated services — this is what this article covers. Registration is an additional step required only for remittance service providers and virtual asset service providers. Standard accounting practices need to enrol but do not need to separately register.
Start with SimpleAML — complete all six steps before you enrol
SimpleAML guides you through your firm profile, staff vetting, training, risk assessment, and AML/CTF program in order — then records your AUSTRAC enrolment and generates your Compliance Report PDF. Free, no account needed.
Open SimpleAML Free → Go to AUSTRAC Online →